New $500 million amusement park coming to the Gulf Coast

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians on Wednesday unveiled detailed plans for a new “first-class, family-friendly tourist destination” currently under construction near South Alabama’s popular beaches.

The complex — called “Owa,” which means “big water” in the Muskogee Creek language — will feature a 14-acre lake at its center, surrounded by a themed amusement park, a 150-room Marriott Town Place Suites hotel, and a wide selection of restaurant and shopping opportunities.

When completed, the Owa development is expected to attract 1 million new visitors to South Alabama and will directly or indirectly generate close to 3,500 jobs. A projected 7 percent increase in tourist spending would raise Baldwin County’s economic output by close to $250 million.

Conceptual renderings of the Owa entertainment district and amusement park planned for Foley, Ala. (Poarch Creek Indians/Special to The Pulse)

“As a Tribe, we have worked hard to ensure that our businesses bring revenue and jobs into the state and add to the quality of life in the rural communities where they are located,” said Stephanie A. Bryan, Poarch Creek’s Tribal Chair and CEO. “Owa is being built in this tradition, and we are very excited to be both neighbors and partners with the City of Foley in bringing economic development to this area.”

The 520-acre Owa development is adjacent to the City of Foley’s $40 million sports tourism complex which features 16 state-of-the-art outdoor fields and a 90,000 square foot indoor events center that is slated to open in the summer of 2017. The two projects will provide a seamless experience for “sport families” who travel to the area specifically for tournaments, but who will avail themselves of opportunities offered by Owa to entertain the entire family.

“For every visitor, Owa will provide a top-notch experience,” said Tim Martin, President of Creek Indian Enterprises Development Authority, the Tribe’s business entity charged with developing the property. “It is an added benefit that families who come to Foley for sporting events will also have all of Owa’s offerings available to them. We believe that this is a winning combination that will have families coming back to Alabama for years to come.”

The Owa complex will be located just off the Foley Beach Express and County Road 20, just 9 miles from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

“No place can beat Alabama’s Gulf beaches for their natural beauty,” said Foley Mayor John Koniar. “We are happy to offer visitors to our area a one stop, family-friendly destination that is near the beach but will provide another option, for not only overnight visitors, but those looking for a day trip getaway.”

Conceptual renderings of the Owa entertainment district and amusement park planned for Foley, Ala. (Poarch Creek Indians/Special to The Pulse)

Owa’s design celebrates its rural roots, officials said. The complex will have the feel of a small Southern town that evolves through time with distinct districts such as the Warehouse District, Downtown District, and Amusement Park.

Phase One of the project, which includes the 150-room hotel, retail and dining spaces, amusement park and lake will open Summer 2017. Future plans call for a waterpark, additional hotels, a condominium complex and a resort-level RV park. When complete, total investment in the development is expected to top $500 million.

The only federally recognized Indian Tribe in the state of Alabama, The Poarch Band of Creek Indians are descendants of a segment of the original Creek Nation which once covered almost all of Alabama and Georgia. The Poarch Creek Tribal Government and its enterprises employ more than 3,500 residents in Alabama, including at three Wind Creek Hospitality resorts in Atmore, Wetumpka and Montgomery, Muskogee Technology, hotels in Atmore and Huntsville, and a racetrack in Mobile.

Looks great. Are they looking at incorporating any alternative clwan energy systems within the park, such as solar, wind, or thermal? What about an environmental programs for recycling and wastewater treatment? Among other interests, I hope that the Creek would be most interested in preserving the integrity of the land as best as possible.

That is not true. Please back up your claims with a source. Alabama has no lottery for the same reason that the state will not negotiate a gaming compact with the tribe. Alabama is deeply conservative. The state has held referendums on establishing a lottery in the past and each has failed. The criminal ex-governor considered negotiations with the Tribe but the legislature quickly shot down that idea.

Alabama will never have a lottery because of all those phony hypocrites in Montgomery. The Poarch Creeks are a powerful group that the Alabama government should watch and learn how to do and run a business.

Maybe when the park does open, Governor Bentley with his wife and girlfriend, Rebekah Mason will be there to make an appearnce to give a speech on family values and what a family friendly park it is. The Biggest lying hypocrite in the state of Alabama showing up on opening day would be awesome!!

You’re right! He is a backwoods bible thumping right wing conservative, screws around on his wife while preaching family values, Moron. Well, I Can’t wait to be able to load up the kids on back of the truck and finally have somewhere to take them nearby, and its not the creek or the beach!! Thank you Poarch Creek Nation!! Please, Overlook the negativity on this page, its just that some people are jealous is all.

Its about time someone with common sense is doing something like this. It’s been a long time coming and to have something so close for families will be a welcome project. Please don’t let negative comments interfere with your plans. Thank you for doing this for the Gulf Coast.

Is this even real. I know this website has been known to post fake articles (Monorail over Pensacola Bay).
I looked on Google Earth to see if I could find a construction site that would match the location given and don’t
see one. Any locals know much about this?

Back in 1972 the Creeks were dirt poor and barely had a school house. Federal recognition and good management have paid off. It’s to bad those with proven Indian heritage that helped prove their numbers for federal recognition were not also allowed to be members.